Samira Rezasoltani
Ph.D. Candidate
Civil Engineering
Queen's University
2021
Supervisor(s): Pascale Champagne
Research Project: Biostabilization of mine tailings for improving wind erosion resistance
Samira’s research aims to reduce fugitive dust emissions from tailings by cyanobacterial inoculation-based crust formation and MICP-derived crust formation methods. She will first investigate the formation of cyanobacterial crust in tailings by inoculation of two nitrogen-fixing species (Anabaena sp. and Nostoc muscorum). Following this she will evaluate MICP-assisted cyanobacterial crust formation by inoculating cyanobacteria in combination with essential substrates for biocement formation. The aim is to assess whether the proposed strategy can promote the formation of a more resistant crust to wind erosion. As cyanobacteria are photosynthetic organisms, crust formation is expected to be primarily within the uppermost millimeters of the surface layer (0-7 mm). For biostabilization of the subsurface layers of tailings, MICP via a denitrification pathway will be examined in the third phase of the study by using nitrate-reducing bacteria (Dechloromonas aromatica). Ultimately, the goal is to examine whether the inoculation of cyanobacteria on the tailings surface and nitrate-reducing bacteria in the subsurface layers will improve longevity and resistance to wind erosion of tailings material.
Rezasoltani S, Champagne P, Mann V. (2021) Biostabilization of Gold Mine Tailings: Co-Inoculation of Cyanobacteria Under Sterile and Non-Sterile Conditions. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, under review.